Improvement in breech loading fire arms



f Zheets-SheetL F. W. FREUND..

ERREUR-LOADING FIRE-ARM, r

Patented J'a.n2,1877.

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2 Sheelzs--Sh9'?l 2. F. W. FREUND.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

Patented Jan.2, 1877.

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FRANK W. FREUND, OF CHEYENNE CITY, WYOMING TERRITORY.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADiNG FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ll, dated January 2, 1877 application filed December Il, 1875.

the accompanying drawings, forming-'part oi'- this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved re-arin (constructed for rim firing) as it appears just after it has been red off. In this view a portion ot' the side of the stock or lock-frame is broken out and section lined in order to expose parts covered by it. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the ire-arm'in the line a; so of Fig. 8 asit appears when the breechblock is lowered by the guard-lever for the purpose of putting in a new cartridge. Fig.

' 3 is a side view of the breech-block detached from the arm, and with the firing-pin and the carrying-block removed. Fig. 4 is a side view of the firing pin and its carryingblock removed from the breech-block. Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on the line s s of Fig. 4, of the firing-pin and its carrying-block. Fig. 6 is a view of the front face of the breech-block. Fig. 7A is a front view of the ring-pin and its carrying-block. Fig. 8 is a section of the rearm in the plane of the line t t of Fig.v 1. Fig. 9 is a section a little above the plane of the line t tof Fig. 1, showing a modification ot' the fire-arm whereby the firing-pin is adapted for center firing; and said pin is constructed separate from the carrier, and arranged to be moved by the carrier. This View also shows the back aperture of the breech-block through whichl the separate firing-pin is inserted, filled up and closed tight by a screw. Fig. l0 is also a section in the plane of the line t t, Fig. 1, showing another modification, whereby the firing pin, attached fast to its carrier, is adapted for center firing. Figs..11, 12,13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 show views of parts of further modifications of the invention.

The object of my invention is to provide breech-loading rim or center lire arms With a `gas-cheek, which will certainly close gas-tight all rear joints or passages leading from the firing-pin to the rearot' the breech-block when the arm is fired.

Another object is to provide a gas-check or tiring pin actuator, which will be caused to half-cock the hammer, when it is bearing upon the gas-check or tiring-pin carri-er, by the operation ot' lowering or raising the guard-lever.

Another object is to have the ring-pin thus arranged move in a straight line, and thereby overcome the diculty and danger of clogging when the breech-block is lowered for reloading.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings. j

A is the breech-block, constructed with an angular depression, a, for the reception ofthe carrier B of the firing-pin O. The lower part of the said depression has parallel walls anda parallel notch or groove, b,vin which a tongue or projection, b,ot' the carrier B may slide in a direction inclined to the breech-block and tangential to the arc of the descending hammer D, where it strikes the thrust-surface d of the carrier, as represented in Fig. 2.

The carrier B is also provided with a small cam, E, the elevation of which corresponds with the stroke of the carrier in the groove b, and which, in a normal position, bears against the high surface of a guide-rib, F, in the mor'- ti'sed breech-block frame G of the gun. The said guide-rib F has its counterpart F in the opposite corner of the mortised frame Gr, and both serve as the bearing for the breech-block on the front side, which forms the support for the cartridge-head.

A depression, f, in the guide-rib F serves to receive the cam E of the carrier B, when the breech-block is at the proper elevation for the hammer D to strike the carrier B, and thereby pushingthe firing-pin O against the rim of the cartridge X, as shown in Fig. 8.

At vthe time oi' this described operation the surface ot' the carrier B, upon which the tongue b' is attached, covers the groove b in the breech-block A entirely, thereby preventing the escape of burning gases along the tiring-pin C, the tongue b', and thence from -the breech-block A are the inner surfaces ot' the mortised frame G.

The movements ofthe breech-block are effected in the mode generally adopted for this class of guns, viz., by a link, H, pivoted ath to the breech-block, and at i to the guard-le ver I of the gun, to which the guard-lever is pivoted by the pin J. The thrust-surface d, on the upper part ofthe carrier B, receives the blow of the hammer D at an angle less than a right angle to the tangent above described, so as to partly prevent a rebound ot' the hammer and carrier in case otl an extraordinarily heavy explosion at the rim ot' the cartridge, and to throw the hammer back at half-cock77 when the breech-block is in any other position than that necessary for tiring.

The barrel K of the gun, which is screwed into the l'rame G, is, at its rear end, provided with an annular depression, 7c, which leaves just enough bearing-metal for the rim of the cartridge X to be exploded upon.

When the gun is to be loaded, the operator moves the guard-lever I down, thereby lowering the breech-block, and by the action of the cam E on the guide-rib F the carrier B is pushed back, and the hammer D is raised to half-cock.

The operator continues to move the breechblock down as far as the guard-lever I will permit, and the breech end of the barrel K being entirely cleared, the cartridge is inserted, and the guard-lever I and the breechblook A are moved back to their normal positions, while the hammer D remains at half'- coek. The cam E of the carrier is now opposite the depression f ot' the guide-rib F, and is prevented from slipping into it by the firing-pin C, which rests against the rim of the cartridge X. Thus the carrier bearing on the hammer and on the cartridge is prevented from playing back and forward, and accidentally discharging the gun by its own movement. The described position is represented by Fig. 2.

For the purpose oi firing the gun the ham` mer is drawn back Vto full-cock, and remains so till the operator is ready to re the arm.

If by any accident the hammer should be moved from the half-cock position down to its rest, it would, by the ascending breech-block, be brought in contact with the upper end of the carrier, and thereby be pushed back into the position of half-cock again before the breech-block is in position for firing. This prevents all accidents to which other guns are subject between the acts of loading and ring, such as the premature discharge ofthe arm by a heavy thrust on the ground at the command order arms,7 which often happens when the hammer is bearing on the firingpin, or its carrier thereby exerting a pressure on the cartridge; or, if in drilling with a loaded gun, the hammer at rest should receive a blow, the premature discharge will take place.

It is to be understood that at half-cock the hammer can only be moved by the operator himself', and no accident but that which produces breakage of' the trigger or the notched tumbler of the hammer, can cause the hammer to move down to its rest. For center ring the firing-pin C is so placed in the breechblock A as to be opposite -the center of the cartridge when ready for firing. The carrier B is then provided with an arm, L, to which the tiring-pin Gis fastened, as seen in Fig. 10; or if a horizontal movement of the firing-pin in the direction of the center-line of the gunbarrel is desired, the carrier B is provided with an arm, M, in the shape of an inverted glitter, which operates on the rim m ofa tiringpin, C, (made separate from the carrier) without interfering with tbe horizontal movement ot' the said pin in the front wall of the breechblock. This latter modification is represented by Figure 9. Figs. 11, l2, 13, and 14 represent two modiiications for center firing, in which the carrier B is kept in the depression of the breech-block by the overlapping and countersunk head of a screw, N, which is fastened to the breech-block either above the carrier, as seen in Figs. l1 and 12, or below the carrier, as seen in Figs. 13 and 14. In both cases the overlapping head of the said sorewmoves in a depression, O, of the carrier B. The screw N may be dispensed with, as these parts will remain together when applied in position. A modification for center firing, with horizontally-moving firingpin, is represented by Figs. 15 to 22 inclusive, where the tiring-pin C is attached to the arm P ot' a bottom block, Q, which moves in a horizontal groove, R, in the breech-block A and beneath the carrier B. An elevated crossarm, S, on the bottom block Q lits into a groove, S', of the carrier B, and, by this means, the movements ofthe carrier B are transmitted to the block Q and tiring-pin C. The groove B in the inclined bottom bearing, for the carrier B, occupies only as much room as will permit of its operations and those of the carrier B.

The main features of construction and operation of the breech-block A, the carrier B, and the `tiring-pin C, are the same in the plan, Fig. 1, as in the several modifications represented. n

In applying the invention herein described, a gas-cup, T, is constructed at the base of the firing-pin C for catching the gas and breaking its force, and preventing its scattering farther and dirtying the inside of the breech-block.

The tiring-pin by moving in a straight line always strikes the cartridge exactly in the center, and in throwing the breech -bloek down to reload, the pin is not likely to cut the metal of the cup, as it ol'ers but little resistance, and retracts at the least movement of the shell. Whereas, the pin as made by others, being held firmly in place when the breech-block is first started, cuts into the cup of the cartridge-shell, and the arm is often clogged with the brass or copper thus fractured.

In breech-loading fire-arms in use, there is danger and liability of the piece being accidentally discharged in quick loading, if the hammer happens to be down, for the bringing of the guard-lever up quickly, brings the firing-pin against the cartridge, and fre quently explodes it; or setting the gnu down heavily at order arms7 is liable to explode the cartridge if the hammer happens to be down; and in the use of the heavy charges, ninety to ninety-five grains of powder for long-range shooting, the cup of the shell is liable to break out, and the powder force itself back through the ring-pin hole, and through the breechblock, directly into the face of the person tiring the arm, which often destroys the eyesight, and causes other serious injury to the person firing the arm. This is more often the case when the firing-pin hole and other parts have worn loose.

My improvements obvia-te both theseimperfections. Withmy arm it is not left to the presence of mind of the person using the gun Y to prevent accidents in quick loading, for when throw the lever up, and the hammer will again come to half-cock; and while this is the case, the leakage of gas is prevented by constructing the breech-block entirely closed behind the firing-pin by solid metal or a firmlysecured screw -plug, which latter may be adopted to facilitate manufacture where the pin is constructed and inserted separate from the carrier. rlhe firing-pin being entirely i11- side the breech-block and its insertion-passage closed, no gas can escape to injure the face and eyes of the person firing the arm; and in the event ot' the pin becoming clogged by pieces of exploded shells, or from any cause, it can be removed readily, so as to be freed from any such obstructing matters, and this can be done almost as readily in the dark as in the light.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A ringpin, or its equivalents, combined with the breech-block, hammer, and breech of the gun, whereby either an up or down movement of the breech-block half-cocks the hammer, substantially as described.

2. A firing-pin, in combination Vwith a breech-block closed iu a direct line behind the pin proper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of hammer, breech of gun, and firing-pin, or its equivalent, to bring the hammer to half-cock, substantially as set forth.

4. The breech-block closed in a direct line at the rear of a firing-piu proper, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The gas-cup T around the ring-pin C, substantially as described.

FRANK W. FREUND.

Witnesses:

^ J. W. BRUNER,

W. P. CARROLL. 

